FearMaker: Family Matters

by Terry Ann Castle

Twelve-year-old Adam Castle lives in a mansion in Beverly Hills. But for him, life is just like that for any other ordinary twelve-year-old. That is, until he mistakenly overhears the unsavory truth about his father. Dear old Dad is a homicidal maniac and lovely Mom is his beautiful accomplice. To make matters worse, Adam overhears a sweet little conversation where he learns that his dad’s next victim will be one of his favorite classmates, Jennifer Isles. Jen is the first girl Adam has ever really liked, I mean got-caught-staring-at-her-more-than-once liked. And his father has plans to kidnap her and bury her alive until a ransom is paid. It seems that Jen’s pretty little head will be whacked off by his loving father, if Mr. and Mrs. Isles don’t go along with his Dad’s maniacal plan. Adam’s ordinary life just took on a demented twist as he steps into the wonderful world of the macabre. Together with his best friend, Julian, the two boys know they have but one choice. They must stop the murder from happening. As they race against time and evil forces, Julian and Adam embark on a murder mystery tour of Los Angeles that would make Edgar Allen Poe shake with terror. The final bit of proof the two sleuths need lies in the bottom of an empty grave at Forever Hollywood Cemetery. Is Adam brave enough to climb into the empty abyss of death and claim the evidence they need to stop his father forever? If he is that brave, what will happen when he descends into the desperate pit of fear? This is a tale so bizarre that it proves that truth is stranger than fiction. It could only have been written by a grown-up kid who grew up in world of horror, in a big house in Beverly Hills, with a real-life dad who made his living scaring the wits out of innocent souls.

134 pages, Paperback

First published September 21, 2011

Reviews

[Todd Fonseca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fearmaker: Family Matters – A Deviously Clever Novel

Rating: 4 of 5
Author: Terry Castle
Format: Paperback, Kindle

Twelve-year-old Adam Castle has a secret, one he can hardly believe himself had he not heard the words straight from his parents mouths. The secret? His father is a cold blooded psychopathic murderer. And he seemed so nice. But what to do? Could it really be? Adam goes on a quest to confirm the awful suspicion he has, but after intercepting a package for his father – one with a cutoff toe inside – he is certain. Armed with his friend and video camera in hand to document his findings, Adam goes on a quest to save the next victim who just happens to be the cutest girl in school. But will his parents learn he knows their secret before he can save her?

Terry Castle’s “Fearmaker” is a deviously clever novel. It quickly sucks in the reader into a world of a twelve year old boy and any reluctant reader of similar age will easily become absorbed in the engaging story line. The book is, however, fairly gruesome in its descriptions though not necessarily over the top. None-the-less, parents may wish to read this book first before letting their kids jump in. If you do, read all the way through before making any judgements. And without giving the plot away, things work out in the end making this much less macabre than I thought it was going to be (which is why it is deviously clever!).

Castle is the real life daughter of horror film maker William Castle and it is easy to see where her inspiration comes from. Is this really fiction or was life at the Castle household a little like this? One can only wonder!

Note: A complimentary copy of this work was provided in return for a review.

[William Castle · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have a reluctant young reader at home, I encourage you to try this book. The cover should be enough to draw them in, but the story is quick-moving and filled with twists and turns that keep even the most reluctant reader engaged. This book is about a twelve-year-old boy who lives in a mansion in Beverly Hills. Life is just like that for any other ordinary twelve-year-old, until he mistakenly overhears a conversation and learns the unsavory truth about his father. Dear old Dad is a homicidal maniac and lovely Mom is his beautiful accomplice. To make matters worse, from the conversation he learns that his dad’s next victim will be one of his favorite classmates, Jennifer Isles, who he has a huge crush on. And his father has plans to kidnap her and bury her alive until a ransom is paid. Together with his best friend, the two boys know they have but one choice. They must stop the murder from happening.